How To Create a Cover Page For Your Term Paper?
The range of academic papers assigned in schools is extensive. It usually includes essays, term papers, speeches, poems, and many other composition types. And these papers are assigned not without reason: each of them has its mission. Usually, at the end of each semester, students need to turn in a term paper. It's necessary to assess how you memorized the material given during the semester and ensure that you developed the necessary competencies. Let's review the main aspects your professor will evaluate when reading your writing:
- Timeliness of the chosen topic;
- Proper structure;
- Interrelations between different sections;
- The quality of the sources of information you used;
- The cover page.
We mentioned the term paper cover page at the end of the line, but, in reality, it's the first thing your readers see. You can't even imagine how it influences the grade your paper gets. There are some formatting and styling rules you must comply with to create an outstanding cover page and show that you're attentive to details. Check the key components of the title page:
Check the key components of the title page:
- Term paper topic;
- Discipline name;
- Author's name;
- Lecturer's or professor's name;
- Submission date.
The purpose of creating a good cover page is to help your readers see your attitude to writing and make them interested and engaged. We don't think you want your professor to lose the desire to read the whole paper after taking a look at the cover page, right? If you don't know how to implement the points we mentioned above properly, this information is for you:
- Term paper title. Do your best to make it as catchy as possible. The title contains the topic of your paper and must be composed well. Don't forget to use a headline case when writing.
- The name of the discipline. Make sure you indicate what discipline your paper is written for.
- Author's name. Since you're the author, you must add your name to the cover page. Including several names in your paper is also accepted.
- Educator's name. It's obligatory to include the name of the person who teaches this discipline or course.
- Submission date. It's not the date when you started or finished writing your paper. It's the date when you turned in this paper.
We've explained each element of the cover page, but there still are some deeper requirements you must follow. Note that not the quantity but quality matters here. The title should be placed at the center of the page and be concluded in quotation marks.
The required type is Times New Roman, 12. Sometimes papers include subtitles. If you plan to add it, use a colon to separate it from the main title. Also, you'd better use a common type for writing it. This tip will help your readers focus their attention on the title, which is more important for understanding the topic of your term paper.
You're free to think that the details we mentioned aren't very important, but any educator will agree that they can drastically change the way your cover page looks. The final look of your paper also depends on the formatting style chosen either by you or your professor. Let's review two of the most widespread ones here.
Cover Pages In APA And MLA: Differences and Similarities
You can use any existing style to format your title page, but APA/MLA is the most widely used in educational settings. The style can't impact the total number of points to be included, but it can change the way they'll look.
We decided to devote this section to explaining the cover page formatting rules for each style, and let us start with APA:
- Running head (isn't obligatory, but check the requirements) is located at the top of the page and written in uppercase.
- Title. Position: upper half of the page, center aligned, written in bold. The title case is obligatory.
- Personal information. This section includes your and your professor's names, the submission date, and the name of your institution. It all is placed under the title. Note that you must use double spacing. Pay attention to the requirements when working on this section.
- Page number. Adding it is obligatory. The page number must be right-aligned. Put it above the header.
You may find the template online, which will help you form the image and understand how it should look. MLA and APA have much in common, so you must be attentive to details: formatting mistakes can spoil your final grade.
- The name of your institution. Placed at the top, center-aligned.
- Term paper title. Halfway down the page and also center-aligned. If you plan to add a subtitle, put it below the main title.
- Author's name. Skip a few lines down and write your name. The discipline. A line below must contain information about the course or subject.
- Lecturer's name. The following line is necessary to include the personal information of your professor (usually a name).
- Due date. Note: there's no specific rule on what date to include here, but students usually add the deadline here so that you may follow their lead.
Well, now you see that the cover page of a term paper isn't as difficult and complicated as it might seem. Even if you are well-versed in all formatting styles and don't need any outside help with them, please, check the final paper before submitting it. You can make many different errors (including spelling ones), which won't do anything good for you and your academic performance at the end of the term. Employ the attentive approach to writing, editing, and formatting your cover page; writing the remaining sections won't be a big problem for you.